Chicago Stars FC vs. Racing Louisville FC: Match Preview – August 23, 2026 | Chicago Stars FC
Chicago Stars FC (4-15-1, 13 pts) will return home to take on Racing Louisville FC (7-11-2, 23 pts) for the second time this season on Sunday, August 23 at Martin Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. The Stars will look to get back in the win column while Louisville will look to earn its fifth consecutive win.
Sunday’s match is All In, presented by Wintrust. The theme, focused on women’s empowerment in sports and beyond, will feature multiple activations to celebrate women’s leadership, service, creativity and innovation. In addition to the match-exclusive themed patch giveaway, fans can pick up an All In scarf, presented by Wintrust, at the gates. In the Fan Zone, presented by Jameson, match attendees will find an Enter to Win opportunity from Wintrust to receive a Stars jersey and participate in the the All In Phone Booth, a special activation in which fans can share about the most inspirational and impactful women in their lives as well as the importance of women’s sports. The club’s Wintrust Player Initiatives organizations, Evanston Animal Shelter, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association and Intentional Sports, will also be tabling at the match in addition to all of the usual fun, family-friendly activities for fans of all ages.
Where to Watch
Stream: CBS Sports Network
Previous Result
CHI: The Stars fell 5-0 to the Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday, August 19.
LOU: Louisville earned a 2-1 home victory over Seattle Reign FC on Wednesday, August 19.
Báez at the Helm
On August 12, Karina Báez was named as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season, leading the Stars for the first time during the team’s match at Seattle on Aug. 14.
Now in her third season with the club, Báez previously focused primarily on analytics as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Stars, Báez worked as a scout for the Mexico Women’s National Team, bringing extensive experience in player evaluation and match analysis. Before her national team role, Báez spent several years in Liga MX Femenil, serving as an assistant coach with both Pachuca and Tigres while also contributing to the development of each club’s U-15 and U-17 programs. In 2021, she was named head coach of Pumas UNAM Femenil, leading the team through the 2021-22 season and further establishing herself as one of the rising coaching talents in Mexican women’s soccer.
Team Leaders
After week 17, Sam Staab leads the Stars with 1,748 minutes played, including 19 starts and appearances in all of Chicago’s 20 matches. Staab also leads the squad with 1,484 touches, 1,092 passes, 122 clearances and 24 blocks. Manaka Hayashi leads the Stars with 41 tackles and 71 recoveries. Offensively, Julia Grosso leads Chicago with 18 chances created, while Jameese Joseph leads with 15 shots. Jordyn Huitema leads with four goals, followed by Gomes with two.
Here’s the History
Chicago is 3-6-2 against Racing, dating back to Louisville’s inaugural season in 2021. Chicago will be looking to even the score this weekend after the Stars fell 2-1 to Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium earlier this month.
Milestones
During Chicago’s last match against the Houston Dash on August 19, defender Sam Staab made her 150th regular-season NWSL start, while midfielder Brianna Pinto made her 50th regular-season NWSL start.
Lauren Holiday Impact Award
Goalkeeper Katie Atkinson was announced by the league as the Chicago Stars’ nominee for the 2026 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, which recognizes an NWSL Player for outstanding service and character off the pitch and in the community. Atkinson will team up with Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The center is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for pediatric oncology and treats more children with cancer and blood disorders than any other hospital in Illinois. Before joining the Chicago Stars, Atkinson was previously Racing Louisville FC’s nominee for the 2024 edition of the award, partnering with another local children’s hospital, Norton Children’s. Lund worked extensively with pediatric oncology organizations throughout her time in Louisville and plans to continue doing so in Chicago, beginning with the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Lurie Children’s.